Portable conveyer



Jan. 20, 1953 J. B. WETHERINGTON ET AL PORTABLE CONVEYER Filed Aug. 28,1950 FIG.

5 Sheets-Sheet l w N INVENTOR5 J.B.WETHERINGTON 3 w. F. RHEM, 61502, g m

:fw m k,

ATTORNEYS Jan. 20, 1953 J. B. WETHERINGTON ET AL 2,625,039

PORTABLE CONVEYER I Filed Aug. 28, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3.

INVENTORS J.B.WETHERINGTON a w. F. RHEM ATTORNEYS Jan. 20, 1953 J. B.WETHERINGTON ET AL 2,625,039

PORTABLE CONVEYER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 28, 1950 INVENTORS J. B.WETHERINGTON,

ATTORNEYS Jan. 20, 1953 J. B. WETHERINGTON ET AL 25 PORTABLE CONVEYERFiled Aug. 28, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 57 L'l 5 INVENTORS J.B.WETHERINGTONa .v w. FZRHEM,

ATTORNEYS Jan. 20, 1953 J. B. WETHERINGTON ET AL 2,625,039

PORTABLE CONVEYER 1 Filed Aug. 28, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 F IG. 8.

S 4e G9 3 so 50% L 49- 56 9 65 w 61 53 65 ea I INVENTOR5 I J. B.WETHERINGTON,

w. P. RHEM,

l 3Y 6ft, W g,

ATTORNEYS 77'I7/IIIIIIIIIMJIIIIIA Patented Jan. 20, 1953 Jesse.B..Wetherington and William F1 Rhem, Craven County, N. 0.

Application August128, 1950, Serial-No.- 181- 842 3. Claims. (Cl.19837') 11 This invention": relates to endless conveyers, and more:-particularly" to conveyers of the wheeled or: portable type which can bereadily moved from place to place, as required.

Q'ne object of the'invention is to provide a'conveyerrofthis type,supportedon a-pair of wheels near its middle, and substantially balancedabout suchawheelszso-that-it may be readily and easily manipulated".

A: further object is to' provide a conveyer of this character? in whichany unbalanced weight issupported"byacaster wheel or wheels at oneextremeend; with which wheel or wheels is as sociated ia guidin'ghandle. by which the machine mayfbe" moved: around;

Another object of the invention is'to devise a con'veyer-havingamaterial-receiving support at one end-and equippedwith improved meansfor automatically stopping the operation of the conveyer should anexcessive weight of material accumulate: on thismaterial-receivingsupport.

While capable ofmany-uses, the invention is especially: applicable tothe handling of blocks or bricks; particularly" to the removalof bricksfroma-kilnand-the-loading of them onto a truck or 'car In'o'rder-thatthe invention may be readilyunderstood; reference is had to theaccompanying of the automaticswitch-controlling device at the:

delivery and ofthe machine;

Fig. 5 is a-vertical section-substantiallyon'the. line" 5--5 of-Fig."4'.-

Fig: 6- is acentralvertical section through our" improvedrsitchoperating mechanism, parts be ins shown in elevation;

'7 is: a'horivontal sectionsubstantially: on the lihe 'l -T of= Fig.16:,

Fig. .8 is a. transverse vertical section substan--- Fig. Q is": a:fragmentary'verti'cal section on:a-- furtherenlarged scalesubstantiallyon theJine Figizlo is'f a' similarfragmentary. view: showing the parts'in a differentr'position; and

Fig. 11 isa schematicrlrview-on a smaller scaleillustratingithetoperating principles :of the switch mechanism;

2 Referring to the drawings. in dt'ail,.the improvedmachine comprisesan. elongated .frame I, preferably of trussed construction. Near themiddle.ofthisframeare a pair of generally ver tical standards,eachcomprising an upper sec tion 2 slidably mountedfin alower section2?; The top of the upper sections 2 areconnectedby across bar: 3, and.the lower sections. 2' are supported on a pair of main wheels 4.Adjacentthe above described standardsv is. a bracket 5 se cured-to themain frame, to'which bracket is at"- tached one endof. a sprocket chain6'. This chain extends upwardly through a-ratchet hoist I ofwell-knownconstruction, operated'b'y, an. 05-

cillating handle or lever 8, the hoist beinglsuspended from. the crossbar 3 at the top; of'th'e standards;

mainframe of the machine relative to the standards. In-this. way theheight of-the machinemay be adjusteclas desired.

Although the wheels- 4 are located nea'rthe middle of the-machine, i'twill be observed-that one end, namely the right hand end is longer.

than the other, or left hand end. At the e': treme end of .the righthand. or longer portion of the machine, is located a pair of casterwheels 9 mounted in a. frame [0 swiveled to the mam frame of the machineat H, the swiveled frame" being provided with a guiding handle l2 bymeans of which the wheels 9 may be manipulated. A-..motor. and. drivingpulleys, as hereinafter described, are mounted on theleft'ha'nd orshorteit' portion of the frame and tend'to balance the weight-of thelonger portion. An y unbalanced weight, however; due to the right'handendof the machine beingilonger than the left" hand.

end, is supported by the caster wheels 9. The handle I2 constitutesmeans by which the machine maybe-pulledor moved around from place toplace.

An endless'con' eyer beltl3 extends around the The endless conveyer.belt is driven byfmeans of an. electric. motor l1 mounted on the main"frame near the wheels 4. This motor carries a pulley. lt'around which abelt I9 passesover'a pulleylfll. mounted. on a shaft 21, on the oppositeBy. operatingthe. lever B, the chain 6 is drawnthrough the hoist,thus-lifting the end of which is secured a pulley 22 connected by a belt23, with another pulley 24 mounted on a shaft 25, on the opposite end ofwhich is secured a pulley 26 which, through a belt 21, drives a pulley28 on the shaft of the drum [4. Thus, these series of pulleys, each pairof which comprises a smaller and larger pulley, serve as speedreduction. gearing between the motor and the drum l4. [In order toprotect the various pulleys and belts, they are preferably enclosed inhousings 29, 30 and 3| as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The upper side members of the main frame I are extended slightly beyondthe drum l4 and preferably incline downwardly as shown at l in Figs. 4and 5.

ing at its end adjacent the drum M a pair of up- Pivoted on a rod 32,carried by the ends of the members I, is a frame 33 havstanding arms 34extending substantially at' right angles to the frame 33 and connectedat their upper ends 'bya crossbar 35.

A'group of stationary rollers 31, shown as 3: in number, are journalledin a pair of supporting members 36 secured to the extensions I of themain frame, so that this group of rollers lies closely adjacent theupper run of the belt l3 and are disposed in an inclined position.

Mounted'in supporting members 33, carried by the frame 33, closely adacent the rollers 31, are a series of horizontal rollers 39, the normalposition of the frame 33 being such that the rollers 39' provide asubstantially level surface.

Carried by the frame 33, adjacent its outer end at a point beyond therollers 39, is a fixed platform 40;

From the foregoing, it will be understood that the frame'33 and its arms34 constitute a pivotally mounted support positioned to receive thematerial delivered from the conveyer belt I3.

Mountedon the main frame of the machine adjacent this support is amanual switch 4|, shown" as of the push-button type, and normallycontrolling the supply of current to the motor driving the belt. Currentis supplied by a cable 42' extending from the switch 4! to a suitablesource of supply, which cable may be conveniently wound around and uponthe housing 39 when not in use. A second cable 43 extends from theswitch 4| to the motor.

A third cable 44 extends from the switch 4| into a special switch box45, where it is connected to an automatic switch 46 (see Figs. 6 and '7)having a push-button 4T;

It willbe understoodthat the motor circuit from the switch 4|" issuchthat it is led through the automatic switch 46 by means ofv thecable 44, so that it is necessary for both switches 4| and 46 to beclosed in order to supply currentto the motor. The switch 46 is normallyclosed, so that the motor may be controlled manually as desired by meansof the switch 4|. However, upon operation of the push-button 47, theswitch 46 is opened, and, if the motor is running at the. time, themotor will be stopped.

We provide special mechanism for automatically actuating the push-button41 of the switch 46 under certain predetermined conditions, which willnow be described.

In the switch box 45 is a fixed frame 48 of rectangular shape as bestshown in Fig. '7, and within this fixed rectangular frame are two setsof spacing members 49,. secured to the frame 48 by bolts 50.

Bridging one set of such spacing members is a horizontal plate 49 andbridging the other set is a horizontal plate 49 The fixed frame justdescribed is integral with or welded to a base 5| secured to the mainframe of the machine as by bolts 52.

Slidably mounted between the pairs of spacing members 49, and beneaththe bridging members 49 and 49 is a movable rectangular frame 53 whichrests and slides upon the base ..5|, after the manner of a drawer.Secured to onelend wall of the movable member 53 is a pull rod' 54, thisbeing preferably connected by means of a pivot pin 55 extending throughspaced ears 55 on the inside. of the movable frame. This pull rod isconnected at its other end to the cross bar 35,

carried by the-upstanding arms 34 of the material receiving support.

Secured tothe endwall of the movable frame 53, opposite that to whichthe pull rod 54 is attached, is a rod 56. This passes freely through anopening in the end of the fixed frame 48 and through an opening 'in' thehousing 45::fand

through a collar 56 secured to suchhousing. .A helical spring 51surrounds the rod 56 and is con-' ,flned between the collar 55 and a nut56 25" threaded on to the outer end of the rod. By means of this'nut thetension on the spring may be adjusted.

Extending across the upper edges of the sidei members of the movabledrawer-like frame 53 30 is a plate 53*, and projecting upwardly fromthis plate is a standard 53 Through this standard is threaded a screwshaft58 carrying at its forward end a bumper 59. It will thus be seenthat frame 53 is shifted to the left, as viewed in Fig. 6, against thetension of spring 51, into the position shown in dotted lines, carryingthe adjustable bumper'59 with it and causing such bumper to engage andoperate the push-button 41 of the switch 46.

In order to render the operation of this switch 1 definite and positive,we provide a spring detent device for causing'the' plunger or bumper 59to move with a snap action. This device comprises a rod 60 secured toand projecting horizontally from an upstanding portion 53 of the movableframe 53. Surrounding this rod is a tubular sleeve 6|) secured as bywelding to the member 53. length, is formed a spherical seat or recess6|,

and the tube 6|] is cut away on either side of this within the tubularmember 65. Also, fitting with in the lower end of this tubular member,beneath the spring 68, is a ball 69 which is urged downwardly by thespring against the rod 6'9 and'sleeve It will thus be seen that as thisrod and'sleeve move longitudinally beneath the yoke 63,the ball 69 willbe caused, by the spring 68, to snap into and out of the seat 6|. Thecutaway portion 62, which surrounds the seat 6|, is for the purpose ofmaintaining the ball in position when it forced up out of the seat.

From the foregoing it will now be understood that materials to beconveyed, such for example;

In the rod 6|], at a suitable point in its' as bricks, are loaded ontothe end of the machine adjacent the caster wheels 9 and are carried bythe conveyer belt toward the other end of the machine. As the bricksleave the belt l3, they travel down the inclined roller way 31 onto thehorizontal rollers 39, successive bricks pushing those in front of themalong. When the bricks reach the left hand end of the series of rollers39, as viewed in Figs. 4 and 5, they are deposited upon the platform 40,from which they are normally removed by hand. If, however, for anyreason, the bricks should not be removed as they reach this platform,they will back up and accumulate on the rollers 39. This accumulatedweight will tend to move the supporting frame 33 downwardly and the arms34 and cross bar 35 will exert a pull upon the rod 54 connected with theautomatic switch mechanism. This pull on the rod is resisted both by thetension of the spring 51 and by the ball 69, resiliently held in theseat 6| by means of the spring 68. The first few bricks which remain onthe platform 40 will not be heavy enough to overcome the resistance ofthese two springs, but when a predetermined number of bricks hasaccumulated on the delivery support, their weight will be sufficient tocause the ball 69 to jump out of the seat or recess 6|, and the plungeror bumper 59 will then suddenly move forward and positively operate thepushbutton 41 of the switch 46, thus interrupting the motor circuit andstopping the conveyer. As soon as the bricks are removed, then spring 51will serve to restore the parts to their normal condition, in which theball is again seated in the recess BI and the switch 46 is closed.

It will thus be seen that we have provided simple and efiicient meansfor positively operating the automatic switch with a snap action, tostop the motor upon the accumulation of a predetermined number of brickson the receiving support, and it is thought that the numerous advantagesof the invention will be readily appreciated by those familiar with suchmatters.

What we claim is:

1. The combination with an endless conveyor, of a motor for driving thesame, a substantially horizontal support pivotally mounted near one endat a point adjacent the delivery end of said conveyer and positioned toreceive material therefrom, a casing, a normally closed switch of thepush-button type within said casing for controlling the supply ofcurrent to said motor, a member slidably mounted within said casing,means connecting said support to said member to move the same, meanscarried by said slidable member for engaging and actuating the button ofsaid switch to open the same, and a spring detent serving to restrainthe movement of said slidable member until the moving force appliedthereto exceeds a predetermined amount and then release the same,whereby the button of said switch is operated with a snap action.

2. The combination with an endless conveyer.

of a motor for driving the same, a substantially horizontal supportpivotally mounted near one end at a point adjacent the delivery end ofsaid conveyer and positioned to receive material therefrom, spring meansfor sustaining said support, a normally closed switch for controllingthe supply of current to said motor, a slidable member for engaging andopening said switch, when moved to a predetermined extent, means wherebythe weight of material on said support, operating against the tension ofsaid spring means exerts a force on said slidable member, tending tomove the same, a spring detent serving to restrain the movement of saidslidable member until the moving force exceeds a predetermined amountand then release the same, so that'said switch is opened with a snapaction, and means whereby said spring means serves to restore. saidswitch and spring detent to normal position when the accumulatedmaterial is removed from said support.

3. The combination with an endless conveyer, of a motor for driving thesame, a normally closed switch for controlling the supply of current tosaid motor, a substantially horizontal support pivoted near one end at apoint adjacent the delivery end of said conveyer, and adapted to receivematerial therefrom, spring means for sustaining said support, saidsupport having a material-receiving surface made up of a series ofparallel rollers adjacent said conveyer and a fixed platform at theextreme end remote from said conveyer and beyond said rollers, on whichplatform the material passing over said roller accumulates, meanswhereby excessive weight of accumulated material one said platformserves to rock the support on its pivot against the tension of saidspring means, and means whereby the rocking movement of said supportserves to open said switch.

JESSE B. WETHERINGTON. WILLIAM F. RHENI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 559,216 Richards Apr. 28, 1896698,379 Elizondo Apr. 22, 1902 1,589,091 Barber June 15, 1926 1,892,790Smelser Jan. 3, 1933 1,987,272 Sprecker Jan. 8, i935 2,212,508Brunnhoelzl Aug. 27, 1 940 2,270,083 Rapp Jan. 13, 1942 2,271,754 ZaleFeb. 3, 1942 2,385,233 Robinson Sept. 18, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS NumberCountry Date 463,280 Great Britain Mar. 25, 1937

